PITTSBURGH -- A stomach ailment prevented center Dainius Zubrus from taking part in the morning skate, but he was determined to give the Devils all he could in Saturday night's game against the Penguins.

Halfway through the third period, Zubrus was finally out of gas and wound up on the bench as Barry Tallackson and Sheldon Brookbank filled in.

"Honestly, I wasn't playing very well throughout the game," Zubrus said. "I tried to stay with it and battle through it, but my energy level wasn't there. I was really weak. Eventually the coach put me aside and gave other guys a chance."

Coach Brent Sutter said Zubrus gave it all he had.

"He was too much under the weather," Sutter said. "Give him credit for trying. He did the best he can. It just took too much of a toll on him."

Normally, a turnover like the one Devils forward Tallackson made to Evgeni Malkin on Sidney Crosby's second period goal would've earned the young winger a spot in the bench for the rest of the night. But Sutter put Tallackson right back out there.

"That happens," the coach said. "Everyone makes mistakes at some point in time throughout their careers. It was a young kid's mistake. He learns from it. I think it's important he goes right back out. He knew what happened. He knew the mistake that was made."